Friday, March 28, 2025

A Writer's Week #139: Writing & Selling

 Hi everyone. Spring is here and the weather is starting to warm up (just a bit). Just like some animals, I am emerging from what seems like a long period of hibernation. By that I mean I have a string of book and craft shows coming up over the next few weeks, which means I'll have a chance to talk to people about my books, which is something I really enjoy.

That doesn't mean I've spent the winter snoozing away. I attended a couple of shows, and I've been working on one of my works in progress, Tales of the Dragon Islands. I'm currently at 6,700 words and have begun adding details to the plot. I think it's really shaping up nicely, but there's still a long way to go. As I may have mentioned before, it takes place3,000 or so years before Eric and the rest of the Deliverers visit the Dragon Islands in book 3, The Golden Dragon of Ang.

I have also hired Silver Dagger Book Tours to set up a monthlong blog tour. Maia has been really great. It is currently running from March 21 to April 21. There are descriptions and excerpts from each book in the Deliverers Series. I contribute seven guest blog posts in the form of character interviews with Eric, Hallo, Kate, Stig, Sharky, the Gatekeeper, and Cy & Chunk. There are also two giveaways--one to win a $20 Amazon gift card and another to win a signed copy of Sharky and the Jewel. Check out the initial stop at Silver Dagger here. It contains links to all the stops on the tour. Follow along and comment on the posts and enter the giveaways!


As for personal appearances, I've got three lined up over the next three Saturdays:

               


Saturday, April 12, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Book & Art Fair @ The Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main Street, Durham, CT 06422


I hope to see some of you at one or more. Can't make it? Don't worry, I have a few dates scheduled for May as well. See you soon.

Peace







Saturday, March 22, 2025

Emily Hurst Pritchett Interview

 For a long time now, I've been planning to interview illustrator Emily Hurst Pritchett. However, being the procrastinator I am, I haven't quite got around to it. Now, I suppose the point is kind of moot as Annie's Book Stop of Worcester conducted a great video interview with her.


It's up on YouTube, but I've posted it below. The interview is really great. In it, Emily gives great insight into her creative process, her own personal taste in books and pastimes, as well as what it's like illustrating for independent authors, publishers, and what she's up to with her personal art. As you watch, you might even see a couple familiar books being flashed. 



This interview was conducted last spring. At the time she was working on the illustrations and cover for As the Owl Flies, a collection of short stories and poems that I released last summer. Here is a sample of some of the wonderful work that she has done for me:

 

 

 
 








Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Tales of the Dragon Islands: Chapter 1

 Here's the first chapter of my WIP, Tales of the Dragon Islands. Let me know what you think. 

Chapter 1

    Moonlight glinted off the slate tiles of the rooftops of the city. A lone figure, shrouded in black crouched low on one of them, surveying the array of buildings that stretched downhill toward the water. A slight breeze wafted up from the harbor, carrying with it the scent
of the sea.

     The figure sniffed the air and gestured slightly. From out of the shadow of a chimney, another shrouded figure joined the first on the ridgeline of the roof. It also sniffed the air, then pulled the mask down from its face.

    Giving a slight smile, it whispered, “Something’s afoot down by the harbor. What is it, Ben?”

    The other figure shook its head and held a finger to its masked face.

     “Oh come on, who’s going to hear us up here? There’s no one here but us.”

     “You there!” a voice cried out. “What are you doing up here?”

      Four figures in polished leather jerkins and gleaming spiked helmets clambered over the rooftops toward them.

    “The Night Watch,” the one called Ben hissed. “Move!”

    Together the two black figures glided away. Smaller and more agile than their pursuers, they moved with cat-like quickness, leaping from roof to roof. In seconds, they had left them far behind.  Moving to the edge of a roof, they slid down the drainpipe to an alley off a little used side street.

      Before they could congratulate themselves on their escape, strong hands grabbed them and locked them in a strong embrace.

      A bearded guard looked them over with a smirk. “Gotcha. What was ya doin’ up on the rooftops. Don’t seem like a fit place fer kids t’ be in the middle of the night.” With a swift tug, he removed one mask, then the other, revealing the faces of a girl and boy.

      “Aha, thought so. What might two orphans be doin’ leapin’ about on the rooftops?”

     “Why don’t you get stuffed, Sharfo?” the boy replied. “Don’t you have more important things to do than go chasing after a couple of kids?”

     The big man laughed. “I might, Benchu. However, Madame Fru sent me to find you. You are not supposed to be out so late. She is afraid for you and Mailynn. She says there is something in the air.”

    Benchu waived his hand dismissively. “Aw, what does she know? She’s always getting ‘feelings’. It’s nothing.”

    Sharfo pursed his lips. “Hmmm. That may be, but I have learned to pay more credence to those feelings than you. Youth is ever quick to scoff at the old, but in the end, they learn. Experience is a stern teacher.”

    He and two members of the Watch escorted the two children through the darkened streets. All the while, Benchu chafed, wanting to head the way they had come, back toward the harbor. Instead, they were marched uphill, deeper into the heart of Dragon Home.

    Turning down a side street they arrived in front of a large building. Its façade was somewhat worn and rundown, but not as much as the buildings closer to the harbor. The biting ocean breezes did not reach so far inland. A wide stone staircase led up to a covered portico that spanned the entire front of the building. It must have been grand once, but now it looked shabby and worn down.

   Standing at the top of the stairs was a stern looking old woman. Her black hair was streaked with gray and drawn back in a bun. She wore a scarlet silk robe, embroidered with gold thread. Piercing black eyes bored into Ben and Mailynn as they walked up the stairs. She stood straight and stiff, displaying no need for the polished bamboo cane she held in her left hand. As the children approached, heads bowed, her wrinkled face showed no emotion.

       “Thank you, for bringing my little birds home, Captain Sharfu,” her voice creaked, “Again.”

    The captain bowed low. “It is my honor, Madame, although I must admit that it is becoming a bit tedious.”

   “I understand, Captain, and I am sorry. When birds fly, sometimes their wings must be clipped.” The old woman sighed and turned to the children. “But I have been hesitating to do so with these two. I had hoped they would learn some restraint.”

                Captain Sharfu snorted. “Perhaps, you should move them to a stronger cage.”

                Madame Fru sighed and shook her head. “Ah well, children are not birds after all. They will follow their own path. These two will ever strive to fly, even though logic says they cannot.

“I have taken you and your men away from your duties enough for one night. Thank you again, Captain.”

Captain Sharfo bowed again. “Safeguarding children is part of our duty, Madame Fru. Once the sun sets, all citizens of Dragon Home are the responsibility of the Night Watch--even two young fledglings such as these. I am only thankful that the rest of your orphans are not as determined to fly the coop.”

He and his men bowed once more and headed back down the street. Ben watched as they were swallowed by the darkness.

                He turned. Madame Fru studied them with an icy stare. “Come, youngsters. We must talk.”